Public Participation Network Overview – based on a presentation delivered to the first Plenary meeting in November 2014

What is PPN? The Public Participation Network is the new framework that will allow community and voluntary groups to have representation and input into county council structures and committees as well as those for other agencies.

Who can be part of it? All Community and Voluntary Groups in Leitrim can register Must have insurance/bank account/evidence of AGM

The Role of the PPN Facilitates the participation and representation of communities in a fair, equitable and transparent manner through the environmental, social inclusion & voluntary sectors on decision making bodies such as the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), Strategic Policy Committees (SPC), Local Sports Partnership, County Peace Partnership etc. Strengthens the capacity of communities and of the environmental, social inclusion, community & voluntary groups to contribute positively to the community in which they reside/participate

What is the Structure? Each group will register in its electoral area and nominate one person to represent it on the district PPN. There will be one in Ballinamore, Carrick on Shannon and Manorhamilton , three in total. Each group will affiliate itself to one of three colleges: Environmental Social Inclusion Voluntary A county wide secretariat will be made up of at least nine people and will ensure that there is gender and geographic spread as well as representation from each of the colleges. This will oversee the county wide running of the County Leitrim PPN and will be supported by Leitrim County Council to do this.

The Three Colleges Environmental Social Inclusion Voluntary Objectives must be environmental protection/sustainability Single issue groups not eligible Must be approved by the national pillar Social Inclusion Must focus on social inclusion/social justice/equality Voluntary All groups that do not qualify as above

Secretariat A secretariat with representation from the three colleges and from the municipal districts will meet to oversee the operation of the PPN Will meet regularly and call meetings

Representation Representation will be sought from the PPN for Leitrim County Council Committees and for committees of other public bodies E.g Local Community Development Committee, Strategic Policy Committees, Sports Partnership, Peace Partnership

Local Community Development Committee LCDC has primary responsibility for co-ordinating, planning and overseeing local and community development funding, whether spent by local authorities or on behalf of the state by other local development bodies. Community representation Voluntary 2 Social Inclusion 2 Environment 1

Strategic Policy Committees There are three SPCs: Economic Dev, Enterprise & Planning One environment representative One social enterprise representative Housing Policy, Social and Cultural Dev One social inclusion representative One voluntary representative Environment, Transport & Infrastructure

Who can be representatives? Group must be in the relevant college Cannot: Be a Public representative Represent a single issue group Represent a group that has already representation on committees, e.g. Integrated Development Company, Family Resource Centre, Community Development Project

PPN Linkage Groups The Linkage Group structure plays a critical role as it is the means by which most public participation roles on Council Committees and Boards will be filled. The Secretariat will convene these as required to elect nominees to the above by the following process: Notifying ALL member organisations in the County of this situation, and Arranging a time and place for a meeting of all those organisations with an interest/involvement in the issue(s) being addressed by the particular body or, in the case of places representing particular interests of communities, those organisations which fit the relevant criteria.